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Thursday, January 29, 2015

I have a love affair with all things color. Navy will always have a special place in this big 'ol heart of mine but I just cannot help but to swoon over pops of color of every kind. Color and all things whimsy will forever be a part of who I am, style and all! Having an awful day? Just splash some happy and delightful hues on and you are instantly happy! Navy hues paired with peach, poppy red, and mint is always a personal favorite of mine! It has especially been adding a little dash of sunshine these days as I am starting to get the winter blues and crave summer. While I am trying to be present, I can't help but to dream about the cocktails I've be partaking in on the beach within the next few months! For now, I'll just swoon on, darlings!

Monday, January 26, 2015

Well hey there, chickadees! Can you believe Monday has already rolled around so quickly? I was hopeful for a snow day today but it doesn't look like it's in the cards for this little lady! Take a look at what made me squeal, "Holy Swoon!" while perusing the world wide web this weekend!

[Snazzy Necklace]: In another life I would have had a plethora of jobs, but that is for another day, you lovely people! At the top of my list would have been a designer which is why I love to get lost on The Design Files website when I need a little modern inspiration. If you have yet to check it out, I highly recommend! Somewhere along the way, I got lost this weekend while pursuing and found this lovely brand, Emeldo. There are so many delightful goods on her site but I am especially smitten with her necklaces! Bright colors and easy to wear- they were made for me! The Cactus Jam Necklace is a personal favorite of mine. Wouldn't it look lovely with a striped t-shirt and a pair of kicks on the weekends when you are on the go? Beep Beep! [Secret Club Key Tag]: If you are anything like me, you spend a lot of time hoppin' around town in your car. Why not enjoy it a little more with a snazzy new key tag? There are so many to choose from you are bound to find one that pulls the strings on your little heart. Coffee lovers unite! You'll want this one!

[Home Sweet Home]: I am absolutely smitten with this print. It's screams charm, wouldn't you agree? I have been going back and forth on whether or not to purchase this print or the banner and I have yet to make up my mind. I would love to add it to our kitchen. Perhaps it would make cooking slightly more enjoyable on nights when I get home late and dread making a mess.

[Pom Pom Flats]: Over the weekend, I pulled The Best Wife Of The Year Award [Okay, that may be a stretch] by offering to take my honeybees car in for a much needed oil change. Did I mention I went solo? I was a brave soul I tell you! As soon as I hopped down from his massive rig I was greeted by a pleasant one hour and a half wait. But don't you worry chickadees, I had a lovely stash of pretty glossies to dig through. I happened to stumble upon these pretties in a local magazine and had to hunt them down the instant I arrived back at our little love nest. These sure would add a little va-va-voom to my happy hued outfits! [Spectacles]: I have mentioned a couple of times that I have been on the hunt for the perfect pair of new spectacles! Earlier this week, I had posted a picture on Instagram of a few of my picks for Warby Parker's Home Try On program. I have purchased three frames in the past and absolutely love them! I was anxious to add a fourth pair because I tend to switch my frames out depending on the amount of sass I want to go with my outfit [kidding, of course!]. Unfortunately, I did not end up with a new pair of Warby's this go around, ladies and gents. I have really had the itch for a pair of round frames. Call me John Lennon if you must but I wasn't going to stop searching until I found the pair! Thank goodness I didn't have to look too far because I am so thrilled to say I found them at SEE eyewear. For you local Columbus, Ohio dwellers, I highly recommend the staff at the Easton Town Center location. I was in and out in no time and can't wait to show you all my new and [slightly] ridiculous frames! Stay tuned, chickadees! [Magis Pina Chair]: Surprise! Another colorful chair that has me weak in the knees! I love the clean lines on this one and the color isn't too bad either. For now, I will just envision well lit rooms with brightly colored chairs. A gal can dream!

[Barre So Hard]: This one is for all of you barre lovers! Yes ladies, I'm talking to you! You know those days when you strut into barre and tuck your hardest. There is nothing that a little barre can't do to turn a day around! I don't know about you lovely ladies, but this one will be hoppin' into my lap soon! Keep working it, my dears! Just remember, the higher the heels, the thinner the thighs! You've got this! #barresohard

I hope this lovely loot brought a smile to your face! Now get out there and show Monday whatcha got!

Friday, January 23, 2015

Well Golly Neds, it's Friday! I don't know about you pals but this week really flew by for me! So much to do and so little time! I plan to make the most out of this weekend and get our little love nest in tip-top shape. There is something about a good cleaning that really clears this head o'mine! What about y'all? Do you have any plans that you can't wait to hop to? If not, here are a few other ways I plan on indulging in on my stay-at-home days as we like to call it in the preschool world:

[Eat]:Can we just admit how amazingly delicious these Peanut Butter Smoreos look? So good, right? If only I could eat them! Someone please make this delectable treat and tell me they are as good as my drooling mouth is making them up to be. I'm just dying to know!

[Do]:Listen ladies, you need to relax. I'm talking full on pop in your most favorite chick flick, put your feet up, and indulge in that stash of chocolate covered pretzels you have in your house. You deserve it, sister! It's not every day that you can partake in such bliss!

[Buy]:Let's be honest, we all have that one gal pal that we can count on to bust out a little Queen B with you when it just so happens to come on the radio in the car. You know, the one who you can find in a crowded bar and bust out every move to Single Ladies with from afar? No shame! Single or not, you need to buy this print for yourself. Oh, and when you are at it, you might as well pick it up for that gal pal I just mentioned because this little gem will be immediately framed + cherished once it hits those little hands of yours. Trust me! It's a masterpiece!

[Wear]:Rain or snow, my toesies will be in my wellies this weekend! I can't help but swoon over my comfy boots when we hop around to get our errands done every weekend. There is something about being able to step in the biggest puddle or pile of snow when I have mine on. What can I say? It makes me feel young!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

One of my best gal pals is expecting her first little one and I am over the moon for her! So much so that I find myself perusing the internet often for lovely finds to add to her nursery. My gal pal just found out that she is going to have a boy! Hip hip hooray! I think raising a boy would be the bee's knees, don't you? I could play with cars and ride bikes outside all day! My honeybee and I go back and forth on whether or not we will find out the gender of our [someday] baby. While I would absolutely love the excitement of not knowing, it may or may not drive me completely insane to not be able to decorate a baby room to the gender. Enough about me, chickadees, take a look at some of my current favorite baby boy duds:

Monday, January 19, 2015

Oh, winter! I can't decide if I love you or am just plain over you! When fall rolls around, sweaters are my jam. Once I wear them a few times though, I ready to bury them in the back of my closet it and forget about them for months on end. I recently purchased this cotton cable sweater and let's just say that I instantly fell in love! I had been on the hunt for a perfect cable knit sweater to add to my closet must-haves. Well, gal pals, this one was a winner-winner chicken dinner. So much so, that I went back and purchased it in navy blue as well. It runs rather big so if you are on the hunt for one, I suggest sizing a size down. What I especially loved about this little number is that it is machine washable and light enough that I can wear it any season, any month. How is that for a snazzy sweater? See how I have been wearing it these days when I want to jazz it up a bit for a night out with my honeybee:

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Within the past couple of years, I have become a complete fitness junkie. It all started when I took up Pure Barre for my wedding. Since then, I have maintained a healthy lifestyle and have yet to look back! My lifestyle is kind of on the wild side, y'all! My days typically start around 5:00 a.m. and sometimes I don't hit the hay until 11:00 at night. With a hectic schedule like mine, I am constantly getting emails and questions sent my way on how I manage it all. On a given day, you can find me at Barre in the mornings before I head to work and bounce around my favorite yoga studios after work. Work outs twice a day are common around this little love nest of ours because it's how I manage my stress and come back to center. Hopefully by now you've find some form of fitness that you love. Whether it's running, spin class, yoga, or barre, it makes you feel good and rejuvenated. While finding the time to get a workout in can be challenging for some ladies and gents out there, I thought that I would share a few ways that I have found helpful in keeping a steady workout routine in this crazy world o'mine!

1. [Plan Ahead]:I have found this to be the most important way to stick with my fitness routine. Every Sunday, I sit down and plan my week. My planner is a must. By sitting down and seeing what my schedule will be like, I am able to better plan out my workouts. I personally sign up ahead for all of my workouts using MindBody. When I sign up ahead of time, I am less likely to cancel my workouts because I feel [slightly] guilty when I cancel. When you plan ahead, you commit yourself and can better mentally prepare yourself for the workouts you have ahead of you. There is nothing like a good workout!

2. [Create A Sleep Schedule]: I know it can be tricky to create a consistent sleep schedule- your favorite show just came on and you swore an hour ago you were going to hop to bed [I am looking at all you fellow Bachelor lovers!]. The truth is, we all know how imperative it is for us to get enough sleep at night.Not only does it put a little pep in our step throughout the day, it is a huge contributor to weight loss. Create a sleep schedule that is realistic to your lifestyle and stick to it. If you workout in the morning, you'll be less likely to skip if you have a sleep routine. I don't know about y'all, but I feel so much better when I get my workout in before work knowing that I can enjoy the rest of my day because my workout is over!

3. [Never Go Three Days Without A Workout]: I know many of us fitness fans have heard this before. Let me tell you, chickadees, it is the truth! It's so important that we listen to our bodies. If we are hurting or are just completely drained from life itself, well then sister, you just need to plop yourself on the couch and cuddle with your furry friend. Just don't go more than three days without a workout or you will loathe yourself if you do. If you find yourself going three or four days without a workout, don't fret. Just hop back on the train and start it again. For myself personally, I can feel my body changing [and not for the better] when I take more than three days off and I feel like I am starting back at square one. Your body will thank you for sticking with it. Keep your eye on the prize [whatever that may be!].

4. [Develop Healthy Eating Patterns]Diet and exercise obviously go hand in hand but it's all about balance, too. If you are lover of junk food, start small. Swapping out those chips and cookies for fruits and veggies at lunch will be a good place to start. If you want a sweet treat every now and then, eat it. Don't deprive yourself of all bad foods. When you feel like you are depriving yourself of all the guilty pleasures, food becomes less enjoyable. Eat to live, don't live to eat but remember- it's all in moderation. Once you develop healthy eating patterns, your body will stop craving all of those bad carbs, you'll have more energy, and you'll bit heading to your workout of choice more frequently.

5. [Set Small Goals]:Think of your fitness goals as a set of stairs. You can't get the top without hopping up each and every step. You won't be able to run a marathon until you can run one mile at a time. It seems so obvious but it needs to be said, my pals. When I first started working out I stumbled upon this quote and read it almost daily: It takes four weeks for you to see your body changing. It takes eight weeks for friends and family and it takes twelve weeks for the rest of the world. Keep going. Setting small goals is like hitting the reset button every time you get to the next one. This might mean not checking the scale every day or it may mean calling a friend to make her help you stay accountable for your daily workouts. Before you know it, you have developed an entirely different lifestyle and can look back and be proud at the progress you are making.

I am obviously no fitness expert, but I have managed to adapt to a healthy lifestyle despite having a busy schedule. Do you find any of these to be helpful to you? What tips do you have for me? I would love to hear them! Enjoy the rest of your weekend, chickadees!

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Yippy skippy, it's 2015! Although, 2014 was such a wonderful year for me in a number of ways. My honeybee and I purchased our first home, I continue to have a job that I absolutely love, I started this little blog that has brought me so much joy, and [most importantly] my pops made it through another year despite the best of the best doctors telling us otherwise. I am so very thankful for 2014 that it almost makes me sad to move forward.

Last year was a wonderful year, but it was also a stressful one. I have mentioned in the past on the struggles that we went through with my pops and to be honest with y'all, you wouldn't understand unless you were going through it with me. If there is one thing I have learned about myself in 2014, it's that I am a total avoider. When things go wrong or I have too much on my plate, I avoid it completely. As a result, I over commit myself, obsess over perfection, let it all get the best of me. I read an article a while back that has started to resurface that, despite not having children, really spoke out to me. These couple of lines in particular really pulled the strings of my heart:

"Excessive phone use, commitment overload, multiple page to-do lists and the pursuit of perfection consumed me. And yelling at the people I loved was a direct result of the loss of control I was feeling in my life. Inevitably, I had to fall apart somewhere. So I fell apart behind closed doors in the company of the people who meant the most to me."

When I read those words, I stopped dead in my tracks. I was completely guilty of this. If it wasn't for my honeybee walking with me every step of the way last year, my life could have taken a completely different turn. Maybe you are guilty of this too, but perhaps not. Either way, last year was all about embracing my life- flaws and all. I had to face it head on, difficulties and all, and because of it, I made it out a much better and stronger person. I realized that it was time to stop hiding behind my to-do lists, stop over committing myself, and just embrace life as I saw it.

Perhaps you noticed, chickadees, that I took a little bloggity break towards the end of 2014. We had just moved into our new home and I came to the realization that life was just going to fly right past me if I constantly hid behind my deadlines. So I slowly disconnected myself between the social media world. I felt that it was something I had to do in order to bring myself back to center. I owed it to myself, to my career, and to those that I hold so near and dear to my heart.

So here is to 2015, a brand new year! May it help me to be the best version of myself and here's to you, too! May your year be filled with happiness, positive change, and good vibes only!

Monday, January 5, 2015

Well hey there, chickadees! Happy New Year! It's been a while, hasn't it? I must confess that I missed y'all but it sure did feel great to take a little bloggity break! I am hoping to share with you lovely people what this little lady has been up to. Until then, take a look at made me squeal, "Holy Swoon!" while recuperating the holiday crazies on my couch this weekend!

[Storage Boxes]:Believe it or not, most of the boxes from the move are unpacked, things are put away, and organized [Hallelujah!]. I still have a box or two from my little office space that I need to hop to and cross off my to-do list. These colorful nesting boxes would add the perfect touch to our office. Wouldn't it look darling with our new print? Y'all know I love a colorful office! Who knows, I may just purchase an extra set to organize my belts and clutches in my new closet!

[Kate Spade Saturday Artwork]:A couple of weeks ago my honeybee texted me to march my tookus into West Elm. Well chickadees, you can image this little one jumping up and down and squealing a couple of times because I just discovered that Kate Spade had landed a collaboration with West Elm. Looking back on it now, I may or may not have embarrassed myself when the mamas and the papas in the store were gawking at my school girl behavior but what's a gal to do? It was a dream come true! I must admit, I was slightly disappointed when I found out it was The Saturday line. I sure love their line, but I am more of a fan of their classic pieces. If you have yet to check out this collaboration, hop to it my pals! I am smitten with the art work and even a few of the rugs. You should see it in person- it's a dream!

[iPhone Case]: I have been smitten with my striped heart ShopBando iPhone case for quite some time now. I decided that it was time to switch it up a bit when I recently purchased my new striped iPhone case [shocking, I know] two weeks ago and it's the bees knees I tell you! I especially love the textured backing so it doesn't scratch up like other iPhone cases I have had in the past [The Type-A in me goes all cray when that happens!]. Yes, it's true, the dark striped one that I have has neon stripes along the side but it makes it easy for me to spot it in my bottomless bags when I am in a hurry, chickadees! If you are looking for a new iPhone 5 case, I highly recommend this one!

[Cocktail Mixer]: When it comes to cocktails, I keep it pretty simple- Blood Mary's, White Wine, and an occasional Gin + Tonic. There are several favorite spots here in CBus that my honeybee and I hop around to that have delectable one of a kind drinks, too. My gal pals always tease me because they say that I am a drink snob- I only like to have mixed drinks when I am out on the town. I swear, there is something about the ice that makes the drinks taste that much better than the ones we try to concoct in our little love nest. Am I the only one that thinks this way? We ended up snatching some of this yummy cocktail mix over the holidays from a local shop and I must admit, it was pretty tasty. The best part? It's vegan + gluten free! Whoop Whoop![Waffles Sweatshirt]: Late one night over my holiday break, I spotted this sweatshirt as I was barely awake but couldn't yet get off of Pinterest. I'm sure you can relate. This sweatshirt is so simple yet so darling at the same time. How perfect would it be when your sugar bear whips you up your own personal plate of Belgium waffles and insists on serving them to you in bed on a Saturday morning? So perfect, right?

[Gerald the Giraffe]: If you haven't picked up on it by now, I've got it. Full on, the whole she-bang, case of baby fever. I have my gal pals to thank since many of them are sending me pictures of outfits and baby bumps that are too cute for words! You can find me perusing all kinds of baby websites these days. It's [slightly] embarrassing to admit since no babies are in the works right now but it sure is fun to look at all of the happy hued, soft, and whimsy little things out there for the tots! I especially love Gerald the Giraffe. Isn't he just precious? Those eyelashes may or may not have stolen my heart!

[Hand Stamped Vase]:I spotted these lovely vases recently and of course I had to pick one up! It's the perfect little touch of sass to our living room when fresh blooms are in the house. I was torn between the stripes and the polka dots but the dots won me over this time. So adorable and you can't beat the price!

[Striped Flats]: It's about that time of the year where the weather is absolutely bitter cold here in good ol' Columbus. If you know me, you know that flats are my jam! Colorful flats, striped flats, pointy flats, I love 'em all! I was just chatting with my honeybee the other day and mentioned about how I couldn't skip out of the house with my flats because it was just too chilly. What the what? I couldn't believe my ears. The fashionista in me would always sacrifice the frigid cold for pretty flats. Not these days. I don't know what has come of me, chickadees. Until the weather hits 40 degrees, you can catch me dreaming of my toesies inside these pretties! Holy swoon!

[Hello Darling Mat]: How precious is this cheeky mat? We purchased this one not too long ago and I am still just smitten with it! I have been keeping my eye out for a second one to place on our back porch and this one might just top the cake. What do you think, gal pals?

I hope this lovely loot brought a smile to your face! Now get out there and show Monday whatcha got!